Cape Town sticks to its guns over cycling lanes

Eighteen fines of R1 000 each were issued in the city centre on Wednesday, as the City of Cape Town's traffic service clamped down on motorists parked illegally in the dedicated green cycling lanes.

These exclude the fines issued in Albert Road in Woodstock and Salt River by the law enforcement officers.

Several employees and customers of businesses in those areas told the Cape Argus that they had been slapped with hefty penalties. Many complained that because of the scarcity of parking in Albert Road, they had no option but to make use of the cycling lanes.

Richard Bosman, executive director of safety and security, confirmed that the fines were part of the city's enforcement operation for the cycling lanes.

The action comes just days after the Cape Argus did an inspection of the lanes and found that they were clogged by cars parked illegally, vans offloading goods and motorists driving in the dedicated lanes with scant regard for the cyclists who were supposed to be benefiting from the city's R300 million non-motorised transport plan.

Businesses in Woodstock and Salt River have since cried foul, saying that the lanes were imposed without proper consultation and that the threat of punitive action would drive away customers and business.

But cyclists took to social media to praise the city for taking a tough stance to ensure that the lanes were reserved for non-motorised transport.

In a letter to the Cape Argus, Brett Herron, mayoral committee member for Transport for Cape Town, said the impasse between concerned businesses and cyclists would only be resolved with a "mind-shift".

"We will have to adapt to the changing times where a growing population is continually forcing us to share the limited space available, whether on the road or elsewhere. Non-motorised transport such as walking and cycling must be part of Cape Town's future if we do not want our city's roads to be in constant gridlock."

The only viable option was for residents to abandon their private vehicles for public transport or to opt for cycling and walking.

Herron said the planning and design of the cycling lane in Woodstock and Salt River was informed by a public participation process during which different options for the cycling lane were identified. The class 3 cycling lanes in both directions were the preferred option.

"Businesses and residents, who registered as interested and affected parties, were consulted on this project during the design and construction phases. This consultation was undertaken over a number of months and included opportunities to comment via written correspondence and at the scheduled community liaison meetings."

He said there was ample opportunity for businesses to comment on the plan.

"One cannot help but question whether those who are complaining took the opportunity to supply their written comment to the city during the public participation process?"

He said the city would look at on-street parking options to address businesses' parking concerns.

"I call on business owners, as people with some influence, to please get behind the city's efforts to address traffic congestion and mobility in a sustainable way and to find a way to be part of this solution."

Source: Cape Argus